Electric connector having pliant body portion



' April 2, 1957 s. ARSON 2,787,770

ELECTRIC CONNECTOR HAVING PLIANT BODY PORTION Filed May 29, l955 2Sheets-Sheet l SAMUEL L. ARSON, INVENTOR.

HUEBNER, BEEHLER, WORRE L 8 HERZ/G,

A TTORNEVS- ZJWTW S. L. ARSON April 2, 1957 ELECTRIC CONNECTOR HAVINGPLIANT BODY PORTION Filed May 29, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SAMUEL L. ARSON,

INVENTOR.

m m m Hfla E HN M m R u Ma T R m WW M w United States Patent ELECTRICCONNECTOR HAVING PLIANT BODY PORTION Samuel L. Arson, Glendale, Calif.,assignor to Cannon Electric Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporationof California Application May 29, 1953, Serial No. 358,278

4 Claims. (Cl. 339-63) This invention relates to electric connectors,and more particularly to connectors of the plug and socket type.

It is an object of this invention to provide an electric connectorwhich. may be readily assembled and disassembled.

It is another object of this invention to provide an electric connectorwhich may be assembled without the use of special fastening means suchas screws, nuts, bolts, rivetsand the like, and yet which may be readilydisassembled if desired.

It is another object of this invention to provide an electric connectorwhich may be readily disassembled for connection of conductors or Wiresthereto, and which may be readily reassembled, all without use ofspecial connecting devices, such as screws and the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide an electric connectormade of resilient, deformable portions, in which the resiliency of theportions is employed to achieve ready assembly and disassembly of theportions, and including means for positively preventing undesiredseparation of the body portions.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparenthereinafter a preferred form of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a persepctive view illustrating two complementary connectors,one being constructed in accordance with the primary principles of thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the two complementary connectors inengaged, or connected, position.

' Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross section showing the .connectors of Fig.2 separated and aligned.

Fig. 4 is a section view similar to Fig. 3, showing the connectorsengaged, and taken along line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the parts of the connector 11during the assembling operation. Referring to the drawings, 11designates one of a pair of complementary connectors, and foridentification will be called a socket connector. The principal featuresof the present invention are embodied in this socket connector 11. Acomplementary connector, called a plug connector, is illustrated at 12.

The plug connector 12 has three pins 13 disposed within a recess 14. Thepins 13 are adapted to mate with three complementary terminals or socketcontacts 16 embedded in a forward portion 17 of the connector 11.

As best seen in Fig. 4, the connector 11 includes a generally circularsocket insulator or body portion 18, in which are embedded the socketcontacts 16. The contacts 16 are elongate and extend from the forwardface of the insulator 18 longitudinally through the insulator 18 toproject rearwardly thereof and terminate in conductor receiving recesses19. The forward portion of the socket insulator 18 is circumferentiallyrelieved to form the above mentioned forward or engagement portion 17.Portion 17 has a polarizing flat 21formed thereon to insure correctengagement with the plugconnector lZ.

ferrule 28 from the rear of the connector.

P such as rubber or pliant resin.

ice

Around the periphery of the socket insulator or'body portion 18, andtransverse to the axis thereof, is formed a semicircular groove 22. Thegroove 22 mates with .a corresponding semicircular ridge 23 formed onthe interior of a sleeve or shell 24. The sleeve 24 has a generallyaxial passageway 26 extending therethrough, the forward portion of whichis occupied by the socket insulator 18, and the rearward portion ofwhich accommodates a cable of electric conductors (not shown) whichextends rearwardly away from the connector 11.

In order to effect engagement and disengagement between the groove 22and ridge 23, for assembly of the connector 11, it is necessary that atleast one of the members 13 or 24 be of resilient, deformable materialIt is desirable that this be the outer member or sleeve 24, since itwill readily expand to effect the interlocking engagement. It is furtherpreferred to make both of the members 18 and 24 of resilient, deformablematerial.

Around the interior of the passageway 26 of the sleeve 24 is formed aforwardly facing shoulder 27, so positioned as to engage the rear edgeof the socket insulator 18 when the ridge 23 and groove 22 are inengagement. The shoulder 27 thus serves to prevent the insulator 18 frombeing pushed too far into the sleeve 24 during assembly of the parts.

Around the outside of the forward portion of the sleeve 24, circumjacentthe groove and ridge 22-23, is an annu lar means in the form of a metalferrule or band 28. The ferrule 23 is fitted snugly over thesleeve 24from the rear of the connector. The ferrule 28 is rigid, being made ofmetal, and serves as an effective lock, preventing deformation of themembers 18 and 24. Since such deformation is prevented, the members aresecurely locked together by the groove and ridge 22-23. The ferrule 28is positioned on the sleeve 24 by an inwardly extend ing flange 29thereon, which abuts a rearward facing shoulder 31 formed on theexterior of the sleeve 24.

The ferrule 28 also serves as a rotative bearing surface for'an end bellor housing 32 which is engaged over the A pair of tabs 33 are bentoutward on the forward edge of the end bell 32 to form interlockingmeans to hold the connector 11 to the connector 12. Since theinterlocking of the connector '11 to the connector 12, requires that thetabs 33 be rotated with respect to the connector 12 after the pins 13are engaged in the sockets 16, it is necessary that the housing 32 berotatable with respect to the other parts of the connector 11. Suchrotatability is rendered more frictionless by the bearingengagementbetween the ferrule 28 and end bell 32.

The rearward portion of the sleeve 2 is provided with a wide groove 34around the exterior periphery thereof. In this groove 34 resides a cableclamping ring 36. The ring 36 is not quite as wide as the groove 34,leaving room at the rear of the groove 34 to accommodate an inwardlyextending flange 37 formed at the rear of the end bell 32. The end bell32 is thus secured against longitudinal displacement with respect to theshell 24 by engagement of the flange 37 between the rear edge of thering 36 and the shoulder 38 forming the rear edgeof the groove 34. At'the same time'the end bell 32 may be rotated with respect to the sleeve24, employing the outer surface of the ferrule 28 as a bearing surface.

Rearwardly from the shoulder 38, the exterior surface of the sleeve 24tapers inwardly as shown M39. This forms a wedge-like surface over whichthe flange 37 may readily slide as the end bell 32 is pushed forwardlyover the sleeve 24 during assembly of the connectorll... .When theflange 37 dropsinto place in the groove 34, the re- .the connector 11.

plurality of. inward indentations .41 disposed longitudinally. Theforward edges of these indentations 41 ,con-

.stitute a barrier cooperatingwith the flange :29 of the ferrule 28 toprevent the.;ferrule 28- fromrnoving rearwardly with respect to thesleeve 24. On the outersurface of the end bell 32 the indentations 41form finger knurling to assist in rotation of the end bell 32, duringinterlocking of the connector 11 to the connector 12.

The rear ends of the socket contacts 16, having the wire receivingrecesses 19, emerge intothe passageway 26, which provides communicationbetween .the socket contacts 16 and the rearv of the connector 11, toaccommodate an electric cable.

The other connector or plug 12 is formed of a metal casing 42, theinterior of which constitutes the recess 14 into which the forwardportion 17 of the connector 11 fits. The casing 42 is provided withaflat wall 43 corresponding to the flat 21 of the connector 11. Thetwocooperating flats thus serve to polarize the connectors so that only theproper pins 13 may engage the proper socket contactslfi.

The pins l3 are secured in the casing 42 by a glass seal 44.

The forward end of the casing 42 is enlarged to. form a connecting bell.in which are located a pair of opposed bayonet type sockets 47 forreceiving the interlocking pins or tabs 33 formed on the end bell 32 ofthe connector 11.

The connectors 11 and 12 are engaged in the follow- .ing manner: firstthe connectors are aligned, with respective flats 21 and 43 in registry.The end bell 32 is rotated on the connector 11 until the tabs 33 are inregistry with the tab receiving recesses 48 of the bayonet sockets 47.Theconnectors 11 and 12 are then pressed together. 'This action causesthe pins 13 to mate in the socket contacts 16, and brings the tabs 33into the expanded recesses48 in the forward portion portion 46 of theconnector 12. The end bell 32 is then rotated to cause the tabs 33 toengage in the slots 49 of the bayonet sockets 47, to thushold the twoconnectors 11 and 12 firmly together.

In order that conductors orwires of a cable may beconnected, as bysoldering, to the socket contacts 16, it is necessary to disassemble theconnector 11. This is achieved in the following. manner. The shoulder 38at the rear of the sleeve 24 is squeezed in, by hand or by pliers, andthe end bell 32 is slipped off the rear end of Removal of theend bell 32with its inward indentations 41 removes the rearward restraint on theflange 29 of the ferrule 28, so that the latter may now be slidrearwardly off the sleeve 24. Removal of the ferrule 28 permits theresilient sleeve 24 and insulator 18 to be deformed enough to permitdisengagement of the ridge 23 from the groove 22. Thus the sleeve 24 maybe separated from the socket insulator 18,. leaving .the rear end of thesocket contacts 16 exposed for reception of the cable 51.

The end bell 32, ferrule 28, and sleeve 24 (with ring 36) are thenslipped over the cable 51 in that order, as shown in Fig. 5. Theconductors of the cable 51 are welded, as by soldering, into therecesses 19 projecting from the rear of the socket insulator '18. Nextthe sleeve 24 is brought forward and slipped over the socket insulator13 until the ridge 23 engages in'the groove 22. 'The ferrule 28 isbrought forward and slipped over the sleeve 24 until the flange 29engages the shoulder 31. Witha pair of pliers, the cable ring 36 isdeformed inwardly, clinching the sleeve 24 hard against the cable. 'Thisrelieves the strain on the soldered connections at 19 in the event thereis a separating pull between the cableSl and the connector 11. Care. istaken tov insure that the ring 36 when squeezed inward, occupies itsforward position in the wide groove 34.

Finally theend bell 32 is brought from the cable over the sleeve 24 andferrule'lS until the flange 37 drops into position over the shoulder 38.During this operation the conical face 39 permits easy forward movementof the end bell 32. With the snapping back of the shoulder 38, theconnector is completely assembled.

To disassemble the connector the above assembly steps aresimply-reversed. In the disassembly, the presence of the cable in thebore 26 requires somewhat greater inward pressure on the shoulder 38 inorder to remove the end beil 32, because the cable. limits and inhibitsthe inward compression applied to the resilient sleeve 24. This addeddifficulty of compression lends security to the integration of theassembled connector 11.

While the instant inventionhas been shown and described herein in whatis conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is therefore not to be limited to thedetails disclosedherein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electricconnector.comprising: a generally circular body portionmade of resilient deformable material. aconducting terminal passingthrough said body portion substantially parallel to the axis thereof, agenerally circular shell portion made of resilient deformable materialengaged coaxially around said body portion, said shell portion havinga-gencrally axial passageway communicating with one end of saidterminal, said passageway being adapted to receive electric conductors.connected to said terminal, oneof said portions having an annular groovethereindispos ed transverse of said axis, the other portionhavinganannular ridge engaged in said groove, thereby forming a ridgeand groove securement between said portions, a rigid annular bandengagedaround said shell coaxially thereof to prevent disengagement of saidportions, and a cylindrical housing engaged over. and'around saidbandand rotatable with respect thereto, said housing having connecting meanswhereby the connector may be secured to another. connector.

2. An electric connector comprising a generally cylindrical socketinsulator-made of resilient deformable material, the forward .portion'ofsaid insulator being rclieved to form an engagement portion, saidengagement portion having a polarizing fiatthereon, a plurality ofelongate, electrically conductive socket contacts mounted in .andextendinglongitudinally through said insulator, said contactscommunicating with the forward face of said relievedportion, saidinsulator having a peripheral groove-therearound,.a generallycylindrical sleeve made of resilient deformable material and engageablcover the rearwardportion of said. insulator, said sleevehaving aninwardly extending ridge mating in saidgroovc. and an inwardly extendingshoulder engaging the rear edge of said insulator when saidridge andgroove are engaged, the outer periphery of said sleeve having ,arearward facing shoulder thereon, a metaljferrule snug]y engaged oversaid sleeve to maintain theinterlocking engagethereof, the rear portionof said sleeve having externally thereofa wide groove, a clamping ringdisposed in said groove,'sai d"be'll having at itsrear end an inwardlyex tending'flange engagedin the rear end of said wide groove to retainsaid bell against longitudinal. movement with respect to said sleevewhile permitting rotation, said ferruleserving as a bearing surface forsaid bell during such rotation, said be'll having a plurality oflongitudinal indentations therearound extending inwardly .to'form abarrierpreventing rearward motion of said ferrule with respect to'saidsleeve, said indentations constituting, ex-

ternally, finger knurling to assist in rotation of said bell withrespect to said insulator, sleeve, and ferrule, said sleeve having apassageway communicating between said insulator and the rear of theconnector, the rearwardly extending portion of said socket contactsresiding in said passageway, said passageway being adapted toaccommodate electrical wires connected to the rear ends of said socketcontacts, said ring being adapted to be deformed inwardly to clamp thewires within the connector through the resiliency of said sleeve, saidbell having interlocking means on the forward edge thereof adapted tomechanically interlock the connector to another, complementaryconnector.

3. Electrical connector comprising a body of deformable material havinga tapered portion at the rear thereof, said body having a bore thereinadapted to receive electric Wires, an annular clamp member disposed atleast partially around said body and forwardly of said tapered portion,said clamp member being adapted to clamp said wires in said body bycompression of said deformable body, a housing around said body,including an inwardly extending flange adapted to slip over said taperedportion by deformation of said tapered portion and to reside betweensaid clamp member and said tapered portion.

4. An electric connector comprising: a generally circular body portion,a conducting terminal passing through said body portion substantiallyparallel to the axis thereof, a generally circular shell portion made ofresilient deformable material, the forward portion of which is engagedcoaxially around said body, the rearward part of said shell portionbeing tapered and being circumferentially relieved forward of the taper,passageway communicating from the rear of said shell portion to saidbody portion, said passageway being adapted to receive an electricconductor connected to said terminal; one of said portions having anannular groove therein disposed transverse of said axis, the otherportion having an annular ridge engaged in said groove, thereby forminga ridge and groove securernent between said portions; a rigid annularband engaged around said shell coaxially thereof to preventdisengagement of said securement; and a cylindrical housing engaged overand around said band and rotatable with respect thereto, said housinghaving an inwardly extending flange on the rear edge thereof adapted tobe slipped over the tapered part of said shell portion by inwarddeformation of said tapered part and to reside in the relief immediatelyforward of said tapered part, said housing having connecting meanswhereby the connector may be secured to another connector.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,125,555 Frantz Aug. 2, 1938 2,414,106 Kelly Jan. 14, 1947 2,563,713Frei Aug. 7, 1951 2,563,762 Uline Aug. 7, 1951 2,691,092 McConnell Oct.5, 1954 2,710,385 Sprigg June 7, 1955

